Watch These American Tanks Slip and Slide Through the Norwegian Snow

U.S. Marine Corps tankers, currently in Norway for a NATO exercise, are learning techniques in driving in snow and icy conditions. The result is like something out of a very slidey drift racing video—that is, one featuring 70 ton race cars.

In the video, U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams crews from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade practice turns that briefly leave their tanks out of control. The video also shows Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks of the Norwegian Army's Telemark battalion take the same course—evidently with a lot more practice.

One curious detail: the Abrams tank doesn't have any crew markings. Marine Corps tanks often have individual names stenciled on the barrel, names such as "Nacho Libre", "Dante's Inferno", and so on. That's because these are not the tankers' regular vehicles. These are tanks that have been sitting dormant in caves just south of the Arctic Circle, ready to roll.

Unknown to many, the Marine Corps stores equipment for an entire combat brigade in enormous caves in Norway. The program, called Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway, can fully equip a 15,000 man marine brigade, complete with 30 days' worth of ammunition and supplies. The goal is to assist Norway—which shares a 121 mile border with Russia—in case of attack.

M1A1 Abrams tanks, LAV-25 reconnaissance vehicles, Humvees and equipment of all kinds are stored in temperature-controlled caves, guarded and maintained by the Norwegian Army. US Marines are occasionally airlifted to Norway, draw gear identical to what was left stateside, and participate in military exercises.

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